Police caution against falling for kidnap phone scams

[Ginchiyo Tachibana]

Police caution against falling for kidnap phone scams

AsiaOne
Sunday, Dec 23, 2012

Kidnap phone scams first emerged in 2007 with 81 cases being reported involving a total monetary loss of $80,000. This figure peaked at 2,162 in 2008 involving a monetary loss of $824,000.

In the past three years from 2009-2011, the number of cases reported decreased from 880 to 530. However, the number of successful cheating cases in the corresponding period increased by 29 to 44 and the amount cheated increased from $189,000 to $256,000.

The number of reported cases for 2012 remains high despite the police's public education efforts.

In a typical kidnap phone scam, the culprit will inform the victim that his/her family member had been kidnapped. The 'kidnapped family member' may plea for help and may convey his/her frightful accounts of being beaten up and/or injured to the victim in order to make the scam more realistic.

The victim is usually not able to confirm whether the voices belonged to his/her family member but may find the voices familiar.

The culprit will usually compel the victim to continue remaining on the phone line so that the culprit can provide specific instructions on how to remit the ransom monies via a selected remittance centre as well as to prevent the victim from making confirmation on the alleged kidnapping with anyone.

The culprit may also forbid the victim from revealing too much information to the remittance counter staff and in some cases, the culprit may guide the victim to provide misinformation to the remittance counter staff. Some of the remittance centres where victims were often instructed to proceed to are located in Ang Mo Kio Central, People's Park Complex and Pearl's Centre. In almost all cases, the victim could negotiate with the culprit on the ransom sum to an amount that is affordable by the victim.

The victims were from all walks of life including professionals.

Members of public who believe that they have received a kidnap phone scam call should do the following:

- Call the police immediately at '999' to report the case;
- Remain calm and contact your loved one to confirm his/her safety; and
- Do not remit any money.